Muhasilović on the 'Milanović case': 'Legitimate representation' an excuse for destructive policies towards BiH

(Patria) - Croatian President Zoran Milanović, since taking office on February 18, 2020, has not deigned to visit the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina even once. And countless times since then until today he has been in our country.

Professor of International Relations and Geopolitics Jahja Muhasilović believes that this actually shows once again how harmful the relationship is that Milanović's Croatia maintains towards Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- His conduct is an elementary disrespect for BiH and its state institutions. Now, when HDZ is an unavoidable factor for forming government at the federal level, we see that the Croatian president's attitude has not changed by a millimeter - Muhasilović tells the Patria News Agency.

This, as he says, only leads us to believe that the entire narrative around "legitimate representation", around, as they like to say in Zagreb, the "Komšić case", was an excuse to pursue destructive policies towards Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- What is important to know is that all the activities of Belgrade and Zagreb are aimed at never allowing Bosnia and Herzegovina to come to life as a civic state. If it were allowed, over time a civic identity of Bosnians would be formed, and consequently, both neighboring countries would lose their leverage in BiH, which is a larger part of Bosnian Serbs and Croats.

It would be impossible for them to "meddle" in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as they have been doing for the last 150 years. For this reason, both will continue to treat Bosnian Serbs and Croats as extraterritorial elements, who serve well for Greater National and irredentist policies - emphasizes our interlocutor.

Yesterday, Milanović visited the municipality of Usora to mark the anniversary of the founding of the 110th Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO). Among other things, from Usora, he announced that Croatia will continue to help Croats and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We asked Muhasilović what specifically Croatia has helped Croats and Bosnia and Herzegovina with during Milanović's three-year term as head of state?

Milanović at the marking of the anniversary of the founding of HVO in Usora (Photo: predsednik.hr)

- Moreover, Croatia and HDZ have harmed Bosnian Croats. Precisely because of Zagreb's irrational policies, there are no longer any Croats in RS. Tuđman was the first to play with the lives and destinies of Croats in RS, Posavina, and parts of central Bosnia in clumsy attempts to bargain with Milošević.

For the interests of Croatia, which considered Croats in central Bosnia useless unless they served as strategic depth in the border areas of BiH, they were forcibly resettled in Herzegovina. At the same time, this same Croatia weakened the political power of Croats in central Bosnia due to the influence of the Herzegovinian lobby, which better served Zagreb's interests.

The imposition of Schmidt's Election Law has not only disenfranchised Bosniaks but also Croats from central Bosnia. It has disenfranchised non-HDZ Croats equally - answers Muhasilović.

In essence, he continues, it only benefits a small group within the Croatian community, and primarily Zagreb.

- When they use compliant Bosnian Croats, they will steal their resources, deposit nuclear waste near them, empty their historical living spaces whenever they lack labor, push them into wars with neighbors for their own ambitions, etc.

Muhasilović: Harmful attitude of Milanović's Croatia towards BiH (Photo: Facebook)

In short, Croatia has betrayed the interests of Bosnian Croats. The fact that Bosnian Croats are spatially confined and demographically impoverished can be thanked to Zagreb and a small group of people in western Herzegovina - says Muhasilović.

HDZ BiH leader Dragan Čović announced that, in accordance with the agreement with the "trojka", the issue of amending the BiH Election Law will be completed within six months after the establishment of the federal government. We asked Muhasilović if the "trojka" will agree to Čović's conditions regarding the election of the BiH Presidency members?

- Unfortunately, probably yes. This is a coalition that has shown that their betrayal of national interests knows no bounds. They will agree to whatever HDZ asks of them.

If there is any discontent, the international community will ensure that they are appeased. This has been the case at all critical moments, and I see no reason why it would be different now.

We often hear unjustified criticism of President Komšić from the leaders of the "trojka". They have absolutely accepted the narrative that Zagreb and HDZ BiH have imposed regarding Komšić. This clearly shows that they are ready to pander to HDZ at the expense of the interests of civic BiH from 'yesterday' - emphasizes Professor Muhasilović.

Milanović also spoke yesterday about the importance of electing a member of the BiH Presidency from the Croatian people. He stated that he wants "Croatia to help as much as it can, and it can do much more than it is doing". In the event that the "trojka" does not agree to deliver the amendments to the Election Law concerning the election of the BiH Presidency members to HDZ BiH, Muhasilović expressed his view on whether it is realistic to expect High Representative Christian Schmidt, again under pressure from official Zagreb, to use his Bonn powers once again?

Čović: Will the "trojka" honor the agreement (Photo: Twitter)

- Schmidt, without any concealment, acts exclusively in Croatia's interest. That is why he was sent to BiH. Although he assures us otherwise, all his moves so far have been aimed at ensuring HDZ BiH's control over the Federation.

Furthermore, all of this is part of a broader American plan to divide BiH into zones of interest for Belgrade and Zagreb, with the former gaining control over RS, and the latter over the Federation. We have seen how careful the OHR is in using its powers when it comes to moves that would benefit BiH. Such things simply never come up - assesses Muhasilović.

Also, he adds, we are observing the non-transparent formation of "working groups" related to state property, although the entire political apparatus should be directly involved in working on such an important issue.

- The OHR and Schmidt have clearly sided with the irredentist policies of neighboring countries and are paving the way for what did not succeed during the aggression against BiH. How far they will go in this depends solely on the seriousness of the resistance that pro-Bosnian policies will offer.

The 'trojka', with its obedient actions, is no longer part of that corpus, but has joined anti-Bosnian activities as a useful idiot. In short, Schmidt will continue his harmful actions as long as he does not encounter a sharp and uncompromising reaction - concludes Muhasilović in an interview with Patria.

(D. Kovač)